Hoddesdon Host Chorleywood Looking to Reignite Promotion Charge

Saturday 26th July 2025 | Lowfield, Hoddesdon | 11:00am Start
HPCL Championship Division

Hoddesdon Cricket Club’s 1st XI return to the field this Saturday after last week’s washout at Hemel Hempstead, and they'll be hungry to make up for lost momentum as they welcome bottom-of-the-table Chorleywood CC to Lowfield in round 12 of the HPCL Championship.

With the league season entering its second half, this home fixture offers skipper Rob Walters and his side a golden opportunity to reassert themselves in the upper echelons of the division and build a strong push towards the top three. Hoddesdon currently sit sixth in the table with 163 points, just five behind Dunstable Town in fourth. With the top half of the table tightly bunched, every win now carries huge significance.

Last Time Out: Rain Halts Hoddy Momentum
After a win v Reed and defeat to Preston, confidence was high in the Hoddesdon camp ahead of the scheduled away clash with Hemel Hempstead Town on July 19th. Unfortunately, the weather gods had other ideas. A deluge of near-monsoon rain flooded Lucas Lane and rendered the outfield unplayable, leaving the players frustrated and supporters soggy.

The cancellation denied Hoddesdon the chance to avenge defeat last time out — but also handed the squad a much-needed rest after a gruelling few weeks of cricket in intense summer heat. With fresh legs and a renewed focus, the Green Machine now turn their attention to what should, on paper, be a winnable home fixture.

Reverse Fixture: Hoddesdon Brush Aside Chorleywood at The Common
If the two sides’ earlier meeting this season is anything to go by, Hoddesdon will go into Saturday’s match brimming with belief. When the teams clashed back on May 24th at Chorleywood’s Common ground, Walters’ men produced one of their most complete performances of the campaign to cruise to a seven-wicket victory.

After winning the toss and electing to bowl under helpful early conditions, Hoddesdon’s seamers tore through the Chorleywood top order with ruthless efficiency. James Curtis was the standout with a devastating 4-31, supported superbly by James Mitchell (2-16) and Oliver Arkinstall (2-32). Chorleywood never recovered from the early blows and were dismissed for a modest 167.

In reply, Hoddesdon’s top order looked assured and composed. Walters (55), Arkinstall (60*), and Will Steward (25) ensured the target was chased down with 14.5 overs to spare, giving the visitors a 25-point haul and a big boost to their net run rate.

Hoddesdon Team News: Captain Leads the Charge
Rob Walters will once again lead the side into battle this weekend. The skipper has been in commanding form with the bat this season and his leadership continues to inspire a balanced squad brimming with both youthful energy and experienced heads.

After his match-winning performance in the recent win at Reed—where he chipped in with two key wickets—Harry Mason will be one to watch again. The spinner scooped the coveted Green Jacket that week and has firmly cemented his place as one of Hoddesdon’s most valuable assets.

Oliver Arkinstall continues to deliver reliably with both bat and ball, while James Mitchell has been crucial in the middle overs. Keeper Will Steward is expected to return after the rain break, and his aggressive batting style could prove key against an under-pressure Chorleywood attack. With depth in the batting line-up and multiple bowling options, Hoddesdon are likely to stick with a settled core for Saturday’s contest.

Chorleywood’s Struggles Continue
It’s been a brutal campaign for Chorleywood CC. Rooted to the foot of the Championship table with just 58 points from 11 games, they remain the only side in the division without a win in 2025. One draw and ten losses tell the story of a team in desperate need of inspiration.

Their batting line-up has failed to click and collapses have become a common theme. When these two teams last met, Edward Rogers (42) was the only batter to offer sustained resistance. Chorleywood’s middle order has been alarmingly brittle, and the visiting side must find answers quickly if they are to spring an upset at Lowfield.

With the ball, James Smithson showed promise with a couple of wickets in the reverse fixture, but Chorleywood’s attack has lacked penetration overall. On the small and fast-scoring Lowfield ground, they’ll need to be exceptionally disciplined and creative to contain a confident Hoddesdon top order.

The Stakes: Building Momentum, Closing the Gap
For Hoddesdon, this fixture is about more than just securing the points. With Old Owens, Shenley Village, and Redbourn all facing tricky fixtures this weekend, there’s an opportunity to make up ground on the top four and potentially leapfrog one or two sides depending on results elsewhere. With games starting to come and go, the Green Machine know that consistent performances and bonus points will be key to breaking into the promotion conversation.

For Chorleywood, it’s now a matter of pride and survival. With safety drifting further out of reach each week, they must rediscover some fighting spirit. A strong showing at Lowfield, even if it doesn’t result in a win, could at least restore some much-needed belief for the final leg of the season.

Conditions and Setting: Lowfield Ready to Roar
Lowfield has become a fortress for Hoddesdon in recent years, and they’ll be hoping for strong home support once again. The weather forecast for Saturday is favourable, with warm temperatures and sunshine predicted. After last week’s rainout, the ground staff, headed up by Adrian 'Animal' Lee and supported by the likes of Barry Helliwell, Clay Stone and Freddie Hawkins, have worked tirelessly to prepare a pristine wicket, and we can expect a good contest between bat and ball.

The pitch should offer some early movement for the seamers, but batters will be licking their lips at the quick outfield and short square boundaries. Expect high scoring if the top orders settle early.

From the Captain
Skipper Rob Walters, speaking ahead of the match, was focused but optimistic:

“We were gutted not to get on the park last week—it felt like we were really building something again after the Reed win and although we lost the Preston game, there was enough there to give me encouragement. But the lads have stayed sharp, and training’s been excellent. Saturday is about setting the tone early and executing our skills. We respect every opponent, and we know Chorleywood will want to come here and cause an upset. But we’ve got a job to do, and we plan to do it ruthlessly.”

“There’s no margin for error now if we want to push up the table. Every week is a mini final. Lowfield is our home and we want to own it.”

Key Players to Watch

• Harry Mason (Hoddesdon) – In red-hot form, Mason’s dual threat with bat and ball could prove decisive once again.
• Oliver Arkinstall (Hoddesdon) – Calm and classy, Arkinstall’s previous 60* against Chorleywood shows his ability to see games through.
• James Curtis (Hoddesdon) – With a 4-wicket haul last time these two met, Curtis will look to repeat his heroics.
• Edward Rogers (Chorleywood) – One of the few bright sparks in a difficult season, Rogers must anchor the visitors’ innings if they are to compete.

With form, confidence, and home advantage on their side, Hoddesdon CC head into this one as firm favourites. If they replicate the focus and discipline shown in the reverse fixture, a repeat result—and another maximum 30-point return—could be on the cards.

Absolutely buzzing for this one.

#GreenMachine